Mouth-gag.



L B. REDFIELD. MOUTH GAG.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 23.1917.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

JOSIAH B. REDFIELD, OF NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.

MOUTH-GAG.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 1, 1918.

Application filed July 23, 1917. Serial No. 132,191.

I 5 State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mouth- Gags, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for holding the jaws of a patient separated, or in other Words, the mouth in open condition for the purpose of treating the throat and other allied parts, and the object is to provide in connection therewith a tongue depressor of a simple and effective character that constitutes a part of the gag or jaw holding means, said depressor being readily adjustable to difierent conditions, and the parts being so disposed that they are not in the way, and are readily accessible.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the de- V108,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view, and

Fig. 3 is a detail underside view of the tongue engaging portion of the depressor.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts inall the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment disclosed, a pairof jaw separating members 4 and 5 are employed that are pivoted together at their ends, as shown at 6 and 7. These members or jaws are generally of bow shape and are relatively rigid. The upper jaw 4 has a central inset loop portion 8 for engagement with the upper jaw and lip and the lower jaw 5 has a correspondingly shaped loop portion 9. Operating levers 10 are connected to the jaws at one end and terminate beyond the same in cooperating finger pieces 11. For the purpose of holdin the jaws in through which said levers slide, the keepers being carried by the lower jaw 5. In order to insure the engagement of said teeth with the keepers, coiled springs 16 connected to the upper jaw 4 are also connected to the levers 12.

The lower jaw 5 is provided at the inset separated position, ratchet evers 12 are- I jaw engaging loop portion 9 with spaced bars 17 forming a guideway in which is slidably mounted a curved leaf stem 18. The rear end of this stem terminates in a relatively flatbroad plate 19 preferably having openings 20 .therethrough and having its under side provided with a series of corrugations 21. Threaded through the upper bar 17 is a set screw 22 that is arranged to bear against the leaf stem 18 for the purpose of securing the same in any desired adjusted position. The head of this set screw is exposed and accessible in the inset loop portion 8 of the upper jaw 4 when the jaws are together. v

The use of the instrument will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The jaws are placed together and arranged in front of the patients mouth with the inset loop portions 19 between the teeth, the tongue depressor bein suitably adjusted. Upon bringing the nger pieces 11 together, the jaws 4 and 5 will be separated and will be held in separated position by the ratchet levers 12. The mouth of the patient is thus entirely unobstructed while the tongue is firmly held depressed, and it will be evident that by adjusting the stem 18 in the guideway, the in clination and disposition of the plate 19 can be varied to suit the particular conditions met with.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an instrument of the character set forth, the combination with relatively movable jaw separating members, of a tongue depressor member including a stem rovided with a curved portion that is sli ably engaged with one of the jaw separating members to cause the member to assume different angular relations upon its sliding movement.

2. In an instrument of the character set forth, the combination with pivotally connected jaws, one having an intermediate guideway, of a tongue depressor plate having a curved leaf stem slidable in the guideway and upon its sliding movement efiectmg a change in the angular position of the plate with respect to the jaw. carrying it, and means for securing the stem in different positions.

3. In an instrument of the character set forth, the combination with pivotally connected members having central inset jaw and lip engaging projections, one of said projections having a fixed guideway, of a tongue depressor member including a curved stem portion slidable in the guideway and rota-, table with respect to the jaw carrying it, and means for securing the stem portion against sliding movement 4. In an instrument of the character set forth, the combination with pivotally connected jaw separating members having central inset jaw and lip engaging loops, one of said loops having a fixed guideway, a tongue depressor plate having a curved stem portion slidable in the guideway to cause the plate to assume diflerent angular relations with respect to the jaw carrying it, and a set screw threaded into the inner side of the guideway and engagin the stem tion for holding it in di erent positions said set screw being accessible in the loop of the other member when the jaws are closed. In testimony whereof I-aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH B. REDFIELD, M. D. Witnesses:

OLGA M. WEIL, RUTH LOAN.

or- I 

